The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-10-13

At the rival tent several colored youths
give cyclone solos on bass and snare
drums, alternating with ear-splitting imi.
tations of the shrek of steam calliope.
Making the rounds Of the fairs this
season is b genius with full-fedged
multum in pdrco on wheels. It IL .
wagon and tent combined. In the sides
of the wagon are peep-holes, through
which one sees what at first seem large
paintings of scenes of the late war. In
reality they are views cunningly ar
ranged in stereoscopes. Within the
wagon, back of the views, Is a cosy
bunk. Like the spider in the fable he
sits at the door OF his tent, with banjo
in his hand, harmonica held in front OF
his lips by means of cunningly bent
wire, and little spring bell at his feet.
From these instruments he contrives to
produce lively music. Often he removes
the harmonica and sings as he twangs the
banjo. Then he calls out the wonders to
be seen within the tent for dime, and as
Kansas has hundreds of ex-soldiers, he
does paying business.
So might 60 on for half f-a-dozen col
umns, telling of the nomads who "fol-
low the fairs" from year to year-the
men with "knife-boards," wooden ba-
lung-testers, lifts" whirling swings,
and everything to sell that any one
would be apt to buy.
Then, there are the Crooks" who ex-
tract the dimes and dollars from the
pockets of the crowds by means of "chuck-
a-luck," the spindle" "thimble-rig," or
the "shells," roulette, fortune wheels, etc.
They are all happy -go-lucky set t,these
followers of fairs, and thoroughly enjoy
their nomadic life. At night, after the
crowds have departed and there are no
others on the ground but themselves and
the watchmen, they play after the toll of
the day. The stable boys, jockeys and
rubbers, by the feeble glimmer of Q Ian.
tern, are shooting craps" a species of
petty gambling. Each "chuck-a-luck"
or "black and red" game has group
about it, and the lemonade man is seen
cheerfully losing his gains of the
day at game that he is fully aware has
nine chances against his one. The banjo
pickers make melody on the night air.
The professionals" are at liberty to par
take of each others stocks without price,
and they drink of the lemonade and
MUNICH the taffy with profound satisfac-
ton. The tent doors are open and they
gaze at will at the big OK and mermaid.
Some one produces fiddle, and, in the
amphitheatre or wherever there is suff1-
cient floor room, vigorous dance goes
on till everybody is exhausted.
If there are not enough women, the
men who cannot obtain female partners
dance with each other. Here the Cir
cassian girl circles with the cane-rack
man to the tune of "Sally Goodin," and
the snake-charmer glides in the embrace
of the owner of the piebald PAGER. Per-
haps, If the watchmen are not disposed
to be critical, there is faro LAYOUT
quietly running in some dimly-lighted
tent or stall, and here small group of
men are stalking their money on the COM
ing of the cards from the little metal
box.
As soon as the fair closes the lemon
ade man and all the rest will pack up
and disappear, and the stay-at-home
people will see them no more. But, at
the fair in the next county the following
week, they will appear again. This
goes on from early August till late
December, and they journey from Ne.
braska to Texas. Then they scatter and
are unheard of till they bob up again
next year with the coming oft he fairs.
Tom p MORGAN,